Device for the prevention and treatment of deformed feet



Se t. 9, 1924.

D. J. MORTON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DEFORMED FEET Original Filed March 2, 1915 DEVICE FOR TH H LI 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Sept. 9, 1924.

- D. J. MORTON 3 PREVENTIQN AND TREATMENT OF DEFORMED FEET DEVICE FOR TH Original Filed March 2, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet A p T1 Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED; sTATEs P TENT,

DUDLEY J; MORTON, or BHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR THE PREvENTIoNnNi)TREATMENT or ii aromvrnn mm; ,1

Original appl ication filed March 2, 1915, Serial No. 11,453. Divided and. this application filed April 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,531, r

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, DUDLEY'J. MORTON, a citizen of; the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Devicesv for the Prevention and Treatment of Deformed Feet, of which the following is a specification. I '1 This application is a division of my oo- 10 pending application on which Letters Patent No. 1,335,981 were granted April 6, 1920,

and relates to improvements in methods and means for the prevention and treatment of deformed feet; i

The bone structure of the foot may be divided into anterior and posterior portions. The latter consists of the astragalus and 0s calcis, and it is upon this portion that theleg bones are borne, the os 'calcis being loWermostf'The anterior portion comprises the scaphoid (which articulates with the astragalus) the cuboid which, articulates with the os calcis and the cuneiform, metatarsal and phalangeal bones. Most of the joints ofthe foot present flattened surfaces permitting very little motion. This, however, is not so at the junction of the anterior and posterior portions of the foot. At this point the bone surfaces are curved, espearticulates with the scaphoid and the os calcis where it articulates with the cuboid. By

reason of the contour of the bonesmentioned, relatively free movement ofthe j o-lnts formed 5 thereby is permitted.

The foot as a base of support presents two divergent bony margins meeting at the heel, the centre of weight-bearing lying cially the head ofi the astragalus where it the heel is in contact with the ground or other supporting surface. Viewed posteriorly, the are formed by this movement shows that the lateralmovement is greatly in excess of any downward movement in the early part of the inward shifting of the weight-bearing center. (However, as the inward movement progresses, the downward movement becomes much more appreciable. 1 Flat foot is the result of 'distorted'function due to prolonged faulty positionof the foot incident to-the shiftin'gfof the center of weight, while theposition of the bones in the interi'nediate stages" is known .as pronation.

is relatively slight.

Further, since the downward movement of the bones is directly the result of the inward movement of the weight-center, the desirability of arresting this inward movementis obvious.

Q Heretofore, it has been the practice to treat pronation of the foot by the use of so-called arch-supports which, as is well known, act as wedges fitting under the arch with the base toward the inner side of the foot. This wedge serves to tilt the foot outwardly which results in maintaining the, center of welghtin its normal or an '8X-' From-the-foregoing, itwill 'beevident that prevention of flatfootmay befar more efiectually obtained by prohibiting the inaggerated position in relation to thelinn er bony margin-of the foot. I space between the lnner and the outer mar gins of-the foot, holding the bones in an abnormal position. They disadvantages. of arch-supports are welli'recognized by the medical profession, owing to the fact that,

acting as splints, they interfere with the normal'movement of thefoot and cause suspension 7 of the active function of the muscles andfligaments. LProlonged use :of arch-supports, as is well established, leads to actual weakness andatrophy of these tissues.

This narrowsthe blood vessels in the arch of the foot between the body weight and the arch supports of existing types, causes or produces occlusion of the blood vessels, thereby seriously impairing the nourishment of the tissues of the foot.

The object of this invention is to overcome the faults in the present method of treatmentof pronation by arresting or preventing the inward movement of the weightbearing center during the period in which pronation occurs. That is, while the body weight is borne by the posterior and anterior portions of the foot or in other words, when the center of weight pivots upon a line drawn from the ball of the great toe to the point where the heel is in contact with the ground. This is accomplished by utilizing the/body weight to resist the inward movement of the astragalo-scaphoid joint from the initiation of the pronation period to the conclusion thereof.

In one method of carrying out the aforesaid object of my invention, Iprovide a device which may be simply and economically constructed, which, in functioning, ignores the downward movement of the arch and acts as a ,bumper to inhibit undue inward motion, thereby. attacking pronation at its source. Such a device preferably embodies a metallic or other plate possessing a certain degree of rigidity which is shaped so as to bev positioned preferably beneath the heel and extend upwardly against the inner side of the foot in the region of the astragalus-scaphoid joint. By forming the device in this manner, the base is positively held in position by the weight imposed upon the heel, thereby maintaining the extension in functioning position relatively to the inner side of the foot. As the body weight progresses and the previously described rotation of the bones of the foot takes place, the inner side of the foot immediately comes in firm contact with the extension of the device which resists continuance of this movement. Simultaneously, the discomfort resulting from contact with the extension stimulates the muscles to pull the footback into its normal position. At no time does the device come into contact with the arched surface of the sole of the foot, but its entire action is exerted against the inner side of the foot, preferably in or about the area of the astragalusescaphoid joint.

In order to convey a clear and comprehensive understanding of my invention, I have elected. to illustrate and describe certain embodiments of devices which are designed to function to produce the results which I desire to obtain- It will be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to these specific structures, reserving to myself the full range ofeqnivalents, both in structures and use, to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect.

I shall now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then point out with more particularity the essential elements of noveity therein in the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the bones of the foot, showing a form of my invention in operative position with respect thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a foot showing a modified form of my invention in operative position with respect to the bones thereof; I

Fig. 4-. is a sectional view showing the position of my device relative to the shoe and foot; I Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective of shown in Figs?) and 4, Fig. 6 is a section on, the line. 6-6' of Fig. 5; 1 p

Fig. 7 is a perspective showing a modified means for detachably fastening the device to the heel or other part of the shoe; Fig. 8 is a section. on the line 7 7 of Fig.7;and I V j Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of 'a' further modification of my invention.

the structure Referring now to the drawings in detail;

in which like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, the device, which .ispref erably formed of sheet metal or other suitable material having the requisite rigidity for its intended purpose, comprises a flat base portion 7 adapted to be'nailed or otherwise securely fastened to theheel or, other solid portion of theshoe 8. One method of fastening is by means of screws-9 passing through the apertures 10 in the base portion 7 of the device. This -methodmay be used where it is desired to make the de vice a permanent fixture in, the shoe, while in those instances'where the device is required to be removable for; changing from one shoe to another, I have found it BX- pedient to strike up prongs 11 on the under surface of the base 7, which, under the weight of the body, will become embedded in the insole or other portion of the shoe,

firmly holding the device against dislodgment. I

Extending upward from the base portion 7 of the device is a continuation 12 which is conformed to lie in the region of the astragalo-scaphoid joint, the, termination providing a bearing portion 13 to restrain the excessive inward movement of this portion of the foot for the purpose hereinbefore explained.- I The device may be encased in an envelop or shield of leather. or other, suitablerma:

N terial, as shown at 14, which may; be padded,

if desired,-to afford greater comfort, the said envelope. preferably having an extension 14 {adapted to lie beneath the heel, as

11, to pass therethrough, and properly func tion. In some instances, it may be desirable to incorporate the device in the shoe, in which event it is preferably disposed wlthin the inner lining of the shoe, the base portion '7 under the insole and the extension 12 between a split counter.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, it will be observed that the base-portion 7 is provided with an elongation 7 a to extend beneath the heel and give the device a slightly increased surface by which it may be positively held in functioning position.

From the foregoing description'it will be readily understood that: the device described may be considered as a lever fulcrumed at 12*. Thus the body weight applied against the base portion? thereof develops a leverage force upon the upwardly directed portion 12, which force, by reason of the configuration of the device, is translated into resistant pressure against the foot. This pressure is constant from the initial im position of the body weight upon the pos terior and anterior portions of the foot until the heel is raised from contact with the ground. It follows, therefore, that the position of the foot will be-controlled by means of a constant resistance during the. eriod in which pronation takes place 3.111316 joint formed by the astragalusand scaphoid bones a and b, respectively. The device having no contact with the arch in the manner of the usual arch supports, the slight pressure exerted by the bearing portion 13 of the device against the astragalo-scaphoid joint causes a patient involuntarily to bring his foot.

muscles intov play to release this pressure, thus strengthening those muscles and .ligaments which must cooperate to maintain'the foot in proper balance for transmitting the weight from the bones of the leg to the ground in its normal line.

It will be notedthat, unlike former devices directed to the alleviation of flat-foot conditions, my invention permits all of the joints of the foot to function with their proper degrees of flexibility and the normal functioning of the muscles and tissues is in no way interfered with or supplanted, the tendency to pronattion being treated at its point of inception to cause the foot itself to effect the cure.

I claim:

1. A device for correcting pronation of the foot, consisting of a-flat plate formed to ;be positioned beneath thesole of the foot,

having an integral upwardly directe'd extension arranged to bear against the inner side ofthe foot approximately. opposite the astragalo scaphoid joint, said device func-, 'tioning. to resist the inward movementgof .said. j oint during. the period inwhich. the

heel is hearing weight.

2. A means for correcting p-ronation of the foot, consisting of a substantially rigid device embodying a flat portion adapted to lie beneath the foot, and an upwardly direct ed portion arranged to contact locally with" the inner side of the footapproximately opposite the astragalo-soaphoid joint, and means for detachably connecting said device to the inside of a shoe, said upwardly di rected portion being adapted to resist-inward movement of said joint whenthe body weight is imposed upon the heel.

3; The combination with a shoe, of means for correcting pronation of the foot, said means consisting .of a substantially rigid de-' vice having'a fiat portion adapted to lie beneath. the heel and det-achably connected to the inside of the shoe, and an upwardly directed portion contacting locallywith the inner side of the foot approximately opposite the astragalo-scaphoidjoint to resist inward movement of said joint when'the' body weight is imposed'upon the heel.

' 4C. A means for correcting pronation ofthe foot, consisting of asubstantially rigid device embodying a'flat base portion, and an upwardly directed extension, said base portion being adapted to 'lie beneath the foot and extend from the bearingpoint of the heel to a point about the middle of the arch, and means for detachably connecting said base to the insideof a shoe, said upwardly directed extension being formed to contact with the inner side of the foot approximately opposite the astragalo-scaphoid joint to resist inward movement of said joint when the body weight is imposed upon the heel, the soft tissues of the arch of the foot being free of pressure fromsaid device.

'5. A'device for correcting pronatipn of.

the foot, consisting of a support-adapted to be positioned beneath the sole of the foot and out of contact with the arch, and hav ingan extension located in the region of the astragalo-scaphoid joint and adapted to contact with theside of the foot opposite-said I joint to resist inward movement thereof during the period in which the body weight is imposed upon the heel.

6. In a means for correcting pronation of the foot, the combination with a shoe, of an upwardly extending element having a portion in fixed contact with the shoe at a point below the inner border of the foot, said elementcontacting locally withthe inner side of the foot approximately opposite the astragaloascaphoid joint to resist any tendency to pronation when the body Weight is imposed upon the heel.

7. A device adapted to be inserted in the shoe for correcting pronation of'the foot, 5 Comprising a flat portion formed to he beneath the sole of the foot, and a portion extending upwardly from said flat portion in the region ofthe astr agalo scaphoid joint and adapted to Contact with the innersidg of the foot approximately opposite said joint 10 to resist the initial movement thereof when the body weight is imposed upon the heeL:

DUDLEY J. MORTON 

